Trap-door for railway-cars and similar structures.



. M. EDWARDS.

IRAP DOOR FOR RAILWAY GARS AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES,

APPLIOATION FILED JUIN: 17, 1909,

. W E 9@ l 99M g RENEW-ED SEPT.16, 1912.

R'Itented Jan. 28, l9l3.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

G. M. EDWARDS.

TRAP DOOR POB. RAILWAY GARS AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES, PPLIOATIN FILED JUNE 17, 190D. EEIIBWED SEPT.1G, 1912.

Patented Jan. 28, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

| I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I l I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I l I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I OLIVER M. EDWARDS, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

raar-noon non RAILWAY-cans Ann SIMILAR STRUCTURES.

innig-ies.

Application iled'June 17, 1909, Serial No. 502,685.

To all whom it may concern.' ,A

Be it known that I, @LIVER M. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, county of Onondaga, State of New York, have invented certain nen7 and useful Improvements in Trap-Doors for Railway-Cars and Similar Structures, of which the following,r is a full, clear, and eX- aet description, reference being had to the drawings accompanying the same.V

This invention relates generally to the construction of metal' trap-doors for cars and similar structures, such for instance as are used to cover and uncover the steps leading` to and from the end platforms of passenger cars. i

One of its objects is to provide a light, strong, easily constructed and readily cleaned door of this general class. V

Another object is to construct' such a door larg-ely of metal with means combined therewith to reinforce the same to make itI sulliciently strong and rigid to do the work required of it and at the same time be of comparatively light weight and easily opened and closed.

'Another object is to construct such a door largely of metal having an upper and under surface substantially smooth and without objectionable protuberanees whereby the door is readily cleaned to permit the ingress and egress of passengerswithout soiling their clot-hing.

With these objects in View the invention consists in the construction. combination and arrangement of'parts to be hereinafter more fully described and more particularly' pointed out in .the claims hereunto annexed and forming,Y a part of this specification.

It has been found in use that trap doors such as are commonly used in passenger 'cars for covering the steps by which passen- `ers enter and leave the cars not only have to be made very strong but it is desirable that they be light in weight so that they can be easily and quickly handled opening and closing of the same at stations. Tt is also desirable that theyshould occupy :'s little space as possible when open and present substantially a smooth under sur- ,1 face which can be quickly cleaned. lt ha.-` 'heen found. that trap doors when vclosed aecumulate more or less dust and dirt on their i under sides while the trains are in motion and itis desirable to wipe ofi such dirt and dust npon'th@ .opening of thesarne, so that Specification of Lettersvatent.

necessary that it be done in the.

Patented Jan. 28, i913.. Renewed September 16, 1912. Serial No. 720,697.

the clot-hing' of passengers will not be soiled by Contact therewith in entering or leaving the ears. This cleaning or wiping olf the under surface of the trap doors has to be. done on the opening' of the same and it is quickly and eHectively so as not to delay the trains at stations. In order that this cleaning may be done quickly and with little expenditure of time and labor, it is desirable that the under surface of the door be substantially smooth and without any protuberances or projections to interfere with the wiping; or cleaning operation. These trap doors, like the platform or vestibule floors,where they are used, commonly receive a covering, usually in the form of a'tiling, with a surface adapt-- ed to preventt-hose using' the cars from slippingr thereon and the upper surfaces of the same are preferably substantially Hush with or in line with the rest of the platforms in which they are used.

Figure l shows in plan view a door and a section of a car or vestibule platform illustrating generally the door when in they closed condition, a portion of the upper coveringr or tiling of the, door being broken away. Fig. 2 shows'inv cross section that which is seen on line 2-2 in Fig. 1, but with the tiling or covering in place. Fig. 3 shows in cross section and on an enlarged scale that which is seenatthe left of Fig. 2.

Fig'. 4. shows in cross section on line lf-Jl and on an enlarged scale a sectional portion of the door illustrating the form of reinforcing;r means seen in Fig. l. Fig. 5 illustrates a door in plan View having a modified form and arrangement of reinforcing means, which means are formed to aid in holding a filling in place to form substantially a smooth surface for one side of the door. 6-6 that which is seen in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 shows in cross section and on an enlarged scale a portion of the door seen'on line 7-7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 shows in cross section on line 8-8 another portion of the door seen in Fig. 5. Fig. 9 illustrates in plan View a modified forni and arrangement of reinforcing means in a comparatively narrow door irl-,ich is thinner at its edges that it is at the central portion thereof. a portion of such means being tapered, as shown, as the same approaches' the front and rear edges of the door. Fig. 10 shows in cross section on line lD--lO of Fig, 9 that which is there- Fig. 6 shows in cross section on line (itt in seen, Fig. il shows in cross section on line l'lll oit Fig. 9 that Wlnclris therein seen.

Lil-te letters ot reference, Wherever they occur indicate corresponding parts of the several lig'uies ot the drawings.

ln'iligs. l to 4. inclusi te, one embodiment of my invention is illustrated. A represents the car or vestibule platform in which the ldoor B is hung so as to be opened and closed by means ot any suitable form ot' 5 rear edges ot the plates* hinge desired. As shown a well known form ot hinge means connects the door to the plattornA so that it may be readily .opened and closed. The door B as there shown, is pret'- erably made up of a top plate ot metal C and an under plate D having at three of its edges bent up angle pieces t), b and b3; adapted to receive and hold the plates C and D, such plates'being secured together by rivets as shown, or otherwise as the constructor tit, These bent up angle parts receive the edges ot the plates C and D on three. sides of the door and torni-a stitlening 'trame tor the door. At the fourth edge the hingey portion l is secured to the door and such portion receives the rear edges of he plates C, D. which as shown are not brought into close proximity with one another is the case with the edges of such plates at the other three edge port-ions of the door, such plates at the hinge edge being separated by collars as shown, or by any other desired means These bent up angle parts l). 7) andb't, at the side and front ot the door are preferably made with suitably beveled edge port-ions in conformity with that which is set. forth in my vPatent To. 8475K?, dated March if), 1007, for trap door bindings, so that the door may be readily opened without undue binding in the opening oi the platform, as shown or other- Wise as the constructor desires. The plate C. as shown is preferably suitably reinforced and stiilened by ribs r', C', c2, preferably'arranged seen in Fig. l. These ribs c, c', c2. are preferably bent np out of sheet metal and they preferably secured to the plate C as shown but they mayY be secured in position tf. Ylien such plate in any desired manvvlietlier arranged as seen in Fig. l or otherwise. These ribs fr. c. c2, when thus i secnred to the plate C reinforce and stiii'en the same and thus give. greater rigidity to a comparatively thin plate of metal than a ninch thicker plate would have. thereby aiding. in obtaining a stift and rigid door ot' i'f;-'snpaiativel.y light Weight. The plate D, as shown, is preferably arranged in contact tft-'ith the projecting portions of the ribs c. c', n2, and it is preferably securedto the plate (l as shown, forming near the side and front edges of the door stiening or reinforcing flanges adapted to aid in makin' a stiiiand strong door. The. hinge portion also tends plate being anged as shown.

to stillen or reinforc'ethat part of the door to which it is attached. The upper and under surfaces of the door formed' by the plates C and D are substantially smooth and are easily wiped ott1 and cleaned. Such plates may be ot' the same thickness or one may be made thinner than the other as desired. The hinge portion E is preferably made in the form shown and extends substantially across the rear portion iof the door and receives between itsvouter portions the V Vand D, which are preferably in contacttvith the louter portions of the hinge and receive between such rear edges the collars or other separating means e, e, e2, eta-and such hinge portions, plates and collars are preferably secured together by rivets as shown. This, hinge portion E, when secured to the plates in the manner seen in Figs. 1 and 2, strengthens and stitlens the rear portion of the door. The upper part ot such hinge portion eX- tends above the plate C and is preferably beveled to receive the rear ed ge of the tiling F and thereby aids in keeping such edge in close and intimate contact with the plate C to which it is secured. The tiling F `is secured to the plate C. in any desired manner. The bent up angle parts t. 72, Zi, when set-ured to the'plates C and B as shown, eX- tend above the upper surface ot the plate C and the edges of such portions nearest the center of the door are likewise beveled to receive the extreme outer side and front edges of the tiling.

The embodiment of the invent-ion illustrated in Figsl to Il of the drawings provides a light, strong, reinforced metal trap door having a substantially fiat and smoothv surface adapted to receive the tiling commonly used on such doors and also a substantially smooth and easily cleaned under surtace for the door which the person who opens and closes the door can readily Wipe off and clean on opening the same, so that passengers entering or leaving the car will not have their clothing soiled or damaged by contact With such undersurtace. If de sired, the door may be constructed somewhat. differently from what is seen in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 and the diderent parts may be somewhat diierently combined, and instead of there beiner two plates of metal employed there need not be but one: also. other means. than metal may,be used for making substantially flat and smooth surfaces Which may receive the tiling and be readily wiped'otf 'and cleaned n the opening of the door.

A modified embodiment vot the invention is illustrated in Figs. to 8, inclusive. otthe drawings` in which only one metal plate is used and that forms the under surface otthe door, the side and front edges ot such This plate C elli. r

has the anges c3, c'1 and c", which are pret'- erably made of sufcient Width to receive the tiling7 if it should be used to form the upper surface of the door. These flanges also are of suilicient width to receive the reinforcing means by which the plate C is reinforced or stifened. ln this embodiment seenl in Figs. 5 to 8 the reinforcing means const of the metal ribs h4, 7), 7), 7)?, 7)8 and 7), which are preferably foi-ined in the shape seen in Figs. 7 and S in cross section and which are preferably arrai'igjed relatively to one another and to the plate (l to which they are securedas shown. As seen in Fig. 5, the rib 7)" extends diagonally nearly across the plate C and the ribs b5 and o are arranged at substantially right angles to the rib 724 and the two likewise extend nearly 'across the door. The ribs 7)", 7) and 799 are preferably arranged substantially parallel with the side and front edges oi the door and between the ribs b4, b5 and 7N. lin this embodiment, the reinforcing ribs are preferably made as shown so as to have surfaces opposite the plates to which they are attached substantially Hat and of a height sutliciently less than the height of ythe Hanges c3, c4 and ci to receive the tiling,r lt". which tiling is not shown' as being present in Fig. 5 of the drawings, but is seen in Figs. 6 to 8. rthe ribs b4, b5, etc. are preferably made as more particularly shown lin Figs. 7 and 8 with the side as there seen so that they mayv aid in securing a filling, which is preferably applied in a plastic state to till the spaces between the vflanged edges of the plate C and the reinforcing ribs. This iilling is preferably made of 'material that becomes sulhciently hardened upon exposure to remain in place and form a substantially llatand smooth surface :dush with the upper surfaces of the ribs and yetbe sufficiently porous for attaching the tiling'thereto if tiling be used, to vhold it in place. This filling may be or' any desired composition of matter and applied in any desired manner and it will naturally aid in supporting the side portions of the ribs and stiteninp; or reinforcing the door. lf desired, this filling may be ot' a, composition of a character adapted to take the place of the tiling now usednto prevent passengers :trom slipping' When walking on the trap door. When a lilling is used, as shown in said liigrs. n to 8, inclusive, the tiling may be received Ona substantially fiat and smooth surface andl be secured to the door -in any desired manner.v The hinge portion E is preterably made to extend substantially across the rear portlon'of the door, that. 1s, 'from the i corner post of the car to the other side ol the opening in which the door is hung and is constructed ,so as to receive the rear edge of the plate as seen in Fig. 6,- or it may be portions flaringr 1 drawings.

` the plates together.

intorclng' means, as 7912 'to the plate C2 made. as shown in Fig. 2 Where the free edges of such hinge portion are somewhat Widely separated and collars or other means are interposed so as to enable such portions to be securely attached to the plate. It' desired, such hinge portion may be made in any other desired manner to enable the door to be hinged tothe platform. These hinge l portions. when they extend substantially across the rear edge ot the door, serve a stiii-'eningr or reinforcing function for that part ot' the door, which function is not served by ordinary toi-ins ot' hinges used on doors. l't will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other luieans :night be elnployed in connection with any ot' the ordi` nary forms of hinges, if it were desired, to reinforce or strengthen the rear portion ot the door. It will be obvious to those skilled in this art that the flanges e, c. c, may be formed with somewhat inclined surfaces in accordance with that which is set forth in Letters Patent. No. @$1,559 for trap dooil bindings so as to aid in readily opening the door. lf desired the parts which go to malte up the trap door may be somewhatdifferently constructed and combined together than is the case in the embodiments illus- 'rated in ligs. 'l to 8 inclusive o1u the drawings. lli a pluralityot plates are used in constructing the door, such plates may be secured together adjacent to their edges in the manner seen in Figs. 9. l() and ll et the lso instead ot forming the reinforcing means in Figs. l to 8 inclusive; and such means may be formed as more particularly seen in Fig. ll ot' the drawings. or in any other desired manner. filso instead ot arranging the reinforcing means as illus t-rated in Figs. 'l to 8 inclusive such means may be arranged as seen in Figs. l). l() and :1l ot the drawings, or in any other desired manner.

' lin the emliodiinent seen in Figs. 0, 1() and ll. the door .b2 is comparatively narroiv and the plates (l2 and D2 Jforni smooth upper and under surfaces respectively. ot the door and the reinforcing' means are shovvn as being secured to the plate C2. The portion of the reinforcingn means, asbl and 7). extends :troni near the trent to near the rear ede/e of the door and the portion, as 7:1 andr 7), is tapered in torni from the eentral portion oit the door toward the front and, rearA thereof to contorni with the shape given to the plate. D2 before securing rthe port-ion of the reis shown as secured and is oit' the forni shown,Y the saine ieine' arranged between the rein toreinggfa means 7), 7), so as to aid in stileir ingr or reinforcing the door in its Widthwise direction.` ".ihe plate DE in the construction seen in Figs. i) to ll, when arrangel as there shown forms a portion of the reinforcing llO 41 rceiee means for strengthening and stidening the plate C to which the angular pieces, as b1, i111 and bm are attached. The reinforcing means may be of any desired form and arranged as desired, so long as such means are adapted to serve the reinforcing func-v tion and thereby7 stillen and strengthen the door. The liingeportion it? mayY be secured to the plate C2 in the manner shown in Fig. l0, or such portion may be secured to theV door in any other desired manner. Such hinge portion preferably extends substantiallrv across the Width of the door but other forms of hinges may be used if desired. Bent` u'p angle pieces o". c7 and es, somewhat similar to those seen in Figs. llto et. are shown attached to the front and side edges of the door, but other forms of edge reinforcing` means mai7 he employed if desired. ln eea-h of the embodiments herein sh own, the means which reinforce or strengthen the central portions of the doors are arranged so as to act thereon between thev points where the door is supported in the platform. The combinations of reinforcing means and plate or plates, as' herein shown, are such that the doors are formed and strengthened somewhat upon the principle on Which a bridge truss l acts. Also in each embodiment there are means adapted to strengthen and stitfen the edges of the door and form a frame therefor. Which aids in supporting the door in thc platform and holding it in position under the strains which the door is necessai-iii7 subjected to in use. That, portion of the reinforcing means which reinforce and stiften the central portions of the door also stiiffen and strengthen the door under the strains to which the door is subjected in use. not onliv from st rains in a vertical direction hut also yin a horizontal direction, the latter strains heing in a direction tending to eou'ipress the material of the door as` in suddenl)- applying the hraltes for stoppin;r the train or otherwise.

jlrhat l have herein .shown and described will naturallyY Suggest to others skilled in this art. other specific embodiments of this invention and also' modifications in the construction and arrangen'icut of parts wherein suhstantially thc same results maj,v he ac.- complished by combinations of elenicuts or devices haring essentially the same mothx of operation as the combinations hare that are particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed, hence l do not Wish to limit my invention to the specific forms and arY raugenients herein shown and described, but desire to include all forms and arrangements which embed;v the spirit of my inrention and which hare substantially the; same inode ot' operation as do the specific l parts and arrangements herein set forth. I, That l claim as new is z 'Y l. ln a trap door the combination, subi stantialy as set forth, of two substantially smooth surfaces, one of which is adapted to forni the tread portion of the door and the other of which surfaces is substantially free -from protuberances and is thereby adapted to be quickly cleaned for the egress and ingress of passengers, and reinforcing means interposed between such surfaces. one portion crossing the other at an angle thereto and both projecting substantially the same distance awa;v from one of such surfaces, such reinforcing means beingarranged to reinforce the door in a line perpendicular to the tread portion thereof.

` Q. In a trap door. the combination subg() stantiall)7 as forth, of a lplate adapted to f form a substantially smooth surface of the door and support the tread thereof, hinging means arranged at, one end of such plate and fixed to one edge thereof so as not to g5 interrupt the smoothness of. the tread surface. reinforcing means secured to the under side of the plate. and a plate adapted to forni a .second smooth surface on the under side of the door whercb)v such surface is quickly cleaned when the door is open, the under plate being engaged with said reinforcing means and secured at opposite edges to the hinging means and the upper plate, substanl tiall)v as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a trap door the combination, suhstautially as set forth, of a plate having a.. substantially smooth surface for one side of the door adapted to receive reinforcing and hingiug means, means for hinging the plate Ato the platform of the carin position for the door to form a continuation thereof. means si nred to the plate, one portion of which is formet'l to cross another portion at angles thereto and be connected to the plate so that the crossing portion extendsaway therefrom for substantiallj,7 the same distance atc0rresponding points as the other portion does, and means arranged in connection with the plate and reinforcing means to form a sec- 11o und smooth surface for such door.

l. lu a trap door the combination, substantiall)v as set forth, of a plate having a substantiallY smooth surface for .one side of -the door adapted to receive reinforcing and hinging means. means for hinging the plate to the platform of a car in position for the door to form a continuation thereof, means arranged in contact with the plate adapted to reinforce the same in a plurality of directions leading from the central portion of the plate for supporting a load thereon, and means arranged in connection with the plate. and reinforcing means to form a second smooth surface `for such door.

Si. ln a trap door the combination, sub stantiallr as set forth, of a plate having a i substantially smooth surface and adapted to receire a suitable tr-id portion for use 1n the platform of a earl and hlnglng and rein 13e separately from the roaiea forcing means, means adap'ted to hinge such plate in the platform, reinforcing means arranged to reinforce the door in a plurality of directions and be secured to the plate in contact therewith and extending away therefrom substantially the same distances at the central portions thereof, and means arranged in connection withthe plate and reinforcing means to forni a substantially smooth surface for the under side of such door.

6. In a trap door t-he combination, substantially as set forth, of a plate adapted to receive a suitable tread surface for use in a car platform, a second plate adapted to form a substantially smooth surface for the under surface of the door, hinging means adapted to hinge the door in the platform; and reinforcing means .formed in two portions interposed between the two plates and arranged to reinforce the door in a plurality of directions without materially increasing the thickness of the door over what is required for one portion of the reinforcing means.

7. In a platform trap door the combinaforth, of a plate adapted to receive reinforcing means and hinging means, reinforcing. means formed plate and adapted to be secured thereto, securing means adapted to securev the reinforcing and hinging means to ferm a substantially smooth surface for one side of the door, and means adapted to hold the means forming such surface in positionv relatively to the plate in the use of the door.

8f In a platform trap. door the combination, substantially as set forth, of a plate having one smooth surface adapted to form one side of the doth', reinforcing means adapted to be secured to the plate for stiening' the same, means adapted to be secured in place relatively to suoli plate and form a smooth surface for the other side of the door, binding means adapted to be secured to the side and front edges of such plate and form a frame for three sides of the door, and hinging means adapted to hinge the door in the platform.

9. In a platform trap door the combination, substantially as set forth, of a plate having substantially one smooth surface, reinforcing means adapted to be secured to such plate for stiifening the same, hinge means adapted ,to hinge the door in the platform, and means adapted to be secured in place relatively to such plate and form a smooth surface, which smooth surfaces are arranged on opposite sides of the door.

l0. In a platformtrap door the combination, substantially as set forth of a plate having one' smooth surface, reinforcing i'neans adapted to be secured to such plate for stilfening the same, hinge means adapted to hinge the door in the platform, binding means adapted to be secured to the sideand` front edges of the door, and means adapted to be secured in place relatively to such plate and form a smooth surface, which smooth surfaces are arranged on opposite sides of the door, whereby both the central portions and edges stiffened.

l1. In a platform trap door the combination, substantially' as set forth, of a plate having substantially one smooth surface adapted to form one side of the door, reinn forcing means adapted to be secured to the plate for st-ilfening the same, hinge means adapted to hinge the door in the platform, means adapted to be secured in place relatively to suchplate and form a smooth surface, which smooth surfaces are arranged on opposite sides of the door, and means adapted to st-itfen and strengthen the edges of the door, whereby the central portions and edges of the door are reinforced and stiffened.

12. In a platform trap door Vthe combination, substantially as set forth, of a plate having one smooth surface adapted to form one side of the door, reinforcing means formed of a plurality of parts of bent up sheet metal adapted to be secured to the plate and reinforce the central portion of the door in a plurality of directions, means adapted to be secured in place, relatively to such plate and form the smooth surface of the other side of the door, and hinging means adapted to hinge the door'to the plat-form,` the'axial line of such means being arranged below the upper surface of the door when in the closed position.

lll. ln a platform trap door the combination, substantially as set forth, of a plate having one smooth surface adapted to forni one side of the door, angular shaped reinforcing means formed in a plurality of parts adapted to be secured to the plate for the stifl'ening of the same in different directions, means adapted to be secured in place relatively to such plate and the reinforcing means to form a smooth surface on the other side of the door, ywhich smooth surface is substantially flush with those portions of the reinforcing means which extend farthest away from said plate in a. direction perpendicular to the tread portion of the door, and hinging means adapted to hinge the door to the platform without obstructing the use of the same.

la. In a platform trap door the combination, substantially as set forth, of a plate having one smooth surface, reinforcing means formed of a plurality of parts adapt ed to be secured to the plate in a plurality of directions, each Aof such parts extending away from the plate in a reinforcing direction to substantially the same extent for stitfening the same, hinging means adapted to hinge the door to th e\platform, and means adapted tobe securel in4 place-relatively to of the door are reinforced and such plate and form a smooth surface, one of which smooth surfaces is flat and adapted to serve as the upper side of said door, which surfaces are arranged on opposite sides thereof, whereby the central portions of the door are reinforced and stidened.

l5. ln a platform trap door 'the combination, substantially as set forth, of a plate having one flat surface adapted to form one side of the door, reinforcing means formed of a plurality of parts adapted to be secured to the door with one part arranged at an angle to another part and thereby reinforcing the door in a plurality of directions and each of which parts extends away from the y plate .in a reinforcing direction to substantially the same extent for stiening such plate, hinging means adapted to hinge the door to the platform, and means adapted to be secured in place, relatively to such plate and form a smooth surface on the other'side of the door, whereby the central portions of the door are reinforced and stiffened.

1G. In a platform trap door the combination, substantially as set forth, of a plate having substantially one smooth surface, reinforcing means formed of a plurality of parts adapted to be secured to the plate and stiften it in a plurality of directions, means adapted to hinge the door to the platform without projecting upward beyond the tread' surface of the door inclosed, and means adapted to be-secured in place'relatively to such plate and form a smooth surface f or the other side of the door, which smooth surfaces are arranged on opposite sides of the door with the main portions thereof substantially equidistant from one another.

17. In a platform trap door the combination, substantially as set forth, of a plate having one smooth surface adapted to form -one side of the door, reinforcing means formed of a plurality of partsiadapted to be secured to the plate in angular relations to one another and stiften the same in different directions, each of which parts has flat surfaces for securing such parts to the plate, means adapted to be secured in place relatively to such plate and reinforcing means to form a smooth surface for the other side of the door, hinging means adaptved to hinge the door in the platform, and

means adapted to secure the reinforcing means to the door.

18. In a platform trap door the combination, substantially as set forth, of' a plate having one smooth surface adapted to form one side of the ffoor, reinforcing means formed of a plurality of parts adapted to be secured to the plate in angular relations thereto for stiffening the same in different directions, the side portions of which are nearer together adjacent to the plate to which such parts are secured than are those portions of said parts farther away from said plate, means adapted to secar inforcing means to the plate, means u to engage with the reinforcing be secured to the plate and aid in le ing the same in different directions form a smooth surface for the other side of the door, and hinging means adapted to hinge the door in the platform` 19. ln a platform trap door the combina lion, substantially as set forth, of plate haring one flat smooth surface adapted' to form one side of the door, reinforcing means adapted to be secured to the plate and reinforce the same in dii'ferent directions, means adapted to be secured to the plate and form a smooth surface for the other side of the door and substantially close up the edges thereof, means for securing such smooth surface to the plate, and hinging means adapted to hinge the door in the plu tform.

20. ln u plat-form trap door the combination, substantially as set forth, of a plate adapted to form the tread side of the door, reinforcing means adapted to be secured to the plate and reinforce the same in different directions, means adapted to forni a smooth surface for the other side ofthe door secured to the tread plate thereof near its edges, means adapted to secure such smooth surface means to the tread. plate and means vadapted to hinge the door in the platform..

21. In a platform trap door t1 ne combination, substantially as set forth, of a plate adapted to form the tread side of the door, reinforcing means adapted to be secured to the plate and reinforce the same in different directions, a plate adapted to form a smooth surface for the under side of the door, means adapted to secure the plates together with the reinforcing means interposed be tween the plates, and hinging means adapted to hinge the door lin the platform, the axial line of the hinging means being arranged in a plane between theA planes occupied by the main portions of the upper and under surfaces of the door.

Q2. In a platform trap door the combination, substantially as set forth, of a plate adapted to forf'n the tread side of the door,

reinforcing means adapted to be secured in place to stiien the door, a plate adapted to form a smooth sur'ace for the under side of the door and to be secured to the plate forming the tread portion of the door adjacent to the edges thereof AWith the main portions of the two plates substantially Gquidistant from one another, means adapt ed to secure the plates together with the reinforcing means interposed between them,

and means adapted to hinge the door in the platform.

E23. A reinforced trap door comprising a metal plate adapted to form one ooth surface of the door when hinged in the p lOO ` adapted to forni n substantially smooth sur- ,fune lor the onder side of the door, which surfaces hfwethe main portions thereof arranged snntielly equidistant from one another.

25. A reinforced letlorm tmp door comprising n metal pete adopted to receive hinging means for hinging it to the platform om form one smooth surface for the loor, which plete is provided with reinforcng'means eecureci thereto for sti'ening it in directions at angles to one another andA adapted to form a substantially Smooth surface opposite such plate and hinging means attached thereto with the axial line thereof arranged below the tread surface of the door.

26. A reinforced platform trap door com'- prising a metal plate having a smooth surface for one side of the door, reinforcing means formed seperately from such plate which stiften the door in directions at angles to one another and meene'forming e, smooth surface for the other side of the door, such smooth surfaces being arranged on opposite sides of the door, one of which is adapted to form a substantially flat surface for the tread side thereof.

` ULVERil/l. EDWARDS. TWitnesses:

F. E. NEWBURY, l/VAUEUS Lmrennonr. 

